Automatic steseopticoit-machik e



J. S. GRAVES.

AUTOMATIC STEHEOPTICGN MACHINE.

APPLICATION man JULY 30.1917.

1,309,358. Patented July 8, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- WI'TNESS: INVENTOR.

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A TTORNEY.

J. S. GRAVES.

AUTOMATIC STEREOPTICON MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED fULY 30,1917.

1,3O9 35a Patented July 8, 1919.-

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THE COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH co., WASHINGTON, n., c.

tion for Letters Patent of the United PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. GRAVES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC STEREOPTIC ON-MACHINE Application filed July so, 1917'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN S. Gnavns, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Stereopticon- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic stereo oticon machines in which pushing and pulfing devices alternately opcrate to transfer zontally about the machine shown and stereopticon slides h0rimachine, in that type of described in my applica- States, filed on December 11, 1916, Serial No. 136,224, and the objects of my invention are, first, to improve and simplify the construc tion of the machine by the provision of a plurality of coacting oscillating or vibrating pushing fingers to advance the stereoptt con slides in the side slideways, second, to provide means for vibrating the pushing lingers; third, to provide yielding guides to guide the slides from the end to the side slideways, and which shall yield to the pres sure of the pushing fingers, and, fourth, to provide yielding connections between the upper and lower guides to effect simultaneous return of the guides to normal position.

I attain these, and other objects, by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view or the complete machine and showing my invention, the rearward end portion of the shelf being cut away to show the means for vibrating the fingers;

F 2 is a rear elevation of the machine, the shelf being broken away to disclose the pivoted lever;

Fig. 3, is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 4, is a plan view of the channeled plates forming the end slideways,

Fig. 5, is a side elevation of the machine, the flange being cut away to disclose the retractile spring to restore the pushing fingers to normal position:

Fig. 6, is a top plan view of the lnachlne;

Fig. 7, is a plan view of the standards;

Fig. 8, is a side elevation of the pivoted lever, and showing the means for connecting the sprocket chain to drive the fingers;

Fig. 9, is a side elevation of the plunger rod;

Fig. 10, is a plan vlew of the driving wheel Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jul 8, 1919. Serial No. 183,575.

with the cam to operate the pivoted lever and the plunger rod, and, Fig. 11, is a detail of the pushing fingers in normal position.

Similar reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The supporting standards 1, are, preferably, provided adjacent their lower ends with shoulders 2, adapted to support a shelf 3, having a downwardly extending flange 4; the shelf is provided with holes 5, at suitable places to receive the standards. Shoulders 6, are formed on the standards, upwardly of the shoulders 2, on which shoulders, transversely extending channel plates 7, are lodged and provided with holes 8, adapted to receive the upper portion of the standards. Shoulders 9, are formed adjacent the upper end of the standards to receive and support transversely extending inverted ehanl'ieLplates 10, which are provided with holes 11, to receive the upper ends of the standards. The channel plates 7 and 10, are held in place on the standards by set screws 12, which pierce the edges of the plates and impinge upon the standards. Vertically eX- tending strips 13, are connected between the inner sides of the outer ends of the plates and horizontally eXtending spaced apart rods 14., are connected between said strips. Vertically extending strips 15, are connected be tween the plates 7 and 10, at a suitable point inwardly of the strips 13, and a plurality of horizontally disposed spaced apart rods 16, are connected between said strips. Horizontally disposed spaced apart rods 17, are connected between the inner edges of the plates 7, and which lie between the strips 13 and 15. The rods 14;, 16 and 17, are designed and located to form slideways 18, at the sides of the machine to receive, support and guide stereopticon slides which are transported about the machine, as will be hereafter explained. A portion of the plates 7 and 10, to the right, are cut away vertically to provide portals 19, at the entrance to the slideways 18, which portals are formed a little wider than the slideways, the floor of the portals registering with the upper side of the rods 17, so that stereopticon slides shall not be obstructed when passing into the slideways 18. A portion of the inner side of the end portions of the plates 7 and 10, to the left, are cut away vertically to form portals 20, at the entrance to the channels in the plates 7 and 10. Longitudinally extending channels 21, are formed in the inner side of the plates 7 and 10, and are adapted to receive stereopticon slides and guide the same from and to the side slideways, in edgewise position. The said channels 21, communicate with the portals 19 and 20. Non-communicating channels 22, are formed in the outer side of the plates 7 and 10, and paralleling the channels 21. Vertically extending revolubly mounted shafts 23, are extended through bearing boxes 2 1, on the shelf 3, and through the portals 19, in the plates 7 and 1.0. Collars 25, are mounted on the shafts 23, and bear on the boxes 24, to hold the shafts in place. Sprocket wheels 26, are mounted on the lower ends of the shafts 23, and gear wheels 27, are mounted on the shafts, below adjacent the plates 7. Vertically extending revolubly mounted shafts 28, are mounted on the plates 7 and 10, outwardly of the shafts 23. Collars 29, are mounted on the shafts 28, and bear on the floor of the portals 19, to hold the shafts in place. Gear wheels 30, are mounted on the shafts 28, in engagement with gear wheels 27, on the shafts Fingers 31, are mounted longitudinally on the shafts 23 and 28, located between the plates 7 and 10, and are adapted to turn with the shafts and press stereopticon slides into the side slideways. Hingedly mounted yielding stops 32, having their free end portions bent downwardly to form guides 33, and passing through recesses in the inner edges of the plates 7 and 10, are mounted on said plates, over and under the portals 19, respectively. Extension springs 35, are connected between the stops 32, to normally hold the stops in place. Butting stops 36, are formed on the inner sides of the strips 13 and 15, to limit the outward movement of stereopticon slides when they are in the portals 19 and 20. Journal bearings 37, are formed in the lower end portions of the standards. A shaft 38, is revolubly mounted in the bearings 37 at the right side of the machine, the shaft being permitted to project a suitable distance outwardly of the standards. An upwardly extending arm 39, is mounted on the projecting end of the shaft, at the front of the machine, and is provided adjacent its upper end with an inwardly extending bolt 4L0, which is entered in a slotted aperture 41, in a slide member the latter being movably mounted in the non-communicating channels 22, in the plates 7 and 10, at the front of the machine. A yielding finger 43, having its free end bent inwardly to project over the portal 20, is attached to the outer side of the slide member 42, and is adapted to engage the edge of the stereopticon slide which may have been advanced from the side slideways to the portals 20. A shaft n, is revolubly mounted in the bearings 37, at the left of the machine the rearward end of the shaft projecting outwardly of the standard, on which a bell crank is mounted and provided with a horizontal arm 4C5, having a slot 16, in its free end and with a vertical arm at, having an inwardly extending bolt A8, adjacent its upper end and piercing a slot 4:9, in a slide member 50, the latter being movably mounted in the non-communicating channels in the plates 7 and 10, at the rear of the machine. A yielding finger 51, having its free end bent inwardly to project over the portal 20, is attached to the outer side of the slide member 50, and is adapted to engage the edge of stereopticon slides which may have been advanced from the side slideway to the portal 20. A crank arm 52, having a slot 53, is mounted on the rearwardly projecting end of the shaft 38. A plunger rod Sfh is slidably mounted on the outer side of the rearward channel plate 7, and is provided on its inner side with a roller 55, and with inwardly extending pins 56, at its lower end and which are respectively entered in the adjacent slots 16 and 53, in the crank arms a5 and 52, for the purpose of turning the cranks, and thereby rocking the vertical arms 39 and 17, so that the yielding fingers 413 and 51, on the slide members as and 50, shall engage the outer edges of the stereopticon slides and draw the same inwardly of the slideways at the front and rear of the machine, thereby imparting forward movement of the slides in advance of the slide members. A lever 57, is pivotally mounted on the rearward flange a, of the shelf 3, adjacent the plunger rod 5%, and is provided withv a roller 58, which is pivotally mounted on its inner side; the lower portion of the lever is bent upwardly in substantially U-shaped formation and a pivot 59, is extended through the top portion of the U-portion. A slotted aperture is formed in the sides of the U- portion, and register with each other.

clamping bolt 61, is extended through said slotted apertures and is adapted to be detained at any point therein. A sprocket chain 62, is attached by its one end to the bolt 61, and is engaged by the sprocket wheel 26, at the rear of the machine, and extended diagonally to and around the sprocket wheel 26, at the front of the machine, the opposite end of the sprocket chain being attached to a retractile spring 63, which is attached to a lug 6%, at the under side of the shelf 3. The retractile spring 63, holds the lever 57, normally turned from the vertical position, and the pushing fingers 31, normally withdrawn from the inner precincts of the portals 19. A gear wheel 65, is mounted at the rearward side of the shelf 3, in the bearing box 66, and in close proximity to the plunger bar 54, and is provided with a cam 67 of peculiar contour and located especially to alternately engage the rollers on the plunger bar 54, and the lever 57, for the purpose of communicating motion to the organized mechanism of the machine. A gear wheel 68 is mounted on the shaft 69, in engagement with a gear wheel 65, and agear wheel 70, at the inner end of the shaft 69, and which is driven by a Worm gear 71, which is mounted on the outer end of the armature extension of a motor 73, comprises the power imparting and power receiving devices provided for driving the machine. An electric lamp 7 6, is mounted on a standard 77, which is seated on the shelf 3, and is extended upwardly in the interior of the machine, and having a forwardly extending arm 78, supporting a projector lens 7 9, outwardly of the machine.

To operate my invention, the switch 75, imposed in the electric circuit 74, is closed and the motor thereby started, the latter driving the worm gear 71, and the gear wheels 68 and 70, entrained therewith, impart motion to the gear wheel 65, in the direction of the arrows shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 10. The cam 67, is thereby revolved to alternately engage the roller 58, on the lever 57, and the roller 55, on the plunger bar 54. l Vhen the cam 67, engages the roller 58 on the lever 57, it presses the upper end of the lever outwardly, thus forcing the lower portion thereof to move inwardly, whereby the sprocket chain 62, is pulled against the tension of the retractile spring 63, over the sprocket wheels 26, imparting a corresponding motion of the wheels and offecting a rotative movement inwardly of the pushing fingers 31. At this moment the gear wheels 27, impart motion to the gear wheels 30, and thereby the other of the pushing fingers 31, are swung inwardly. A stereopticon. slide standing in the portals 20, will receive the pressure of the pushing fingers and be forced thereby against the guides 33, the stops 32, yielding to allow the slide to move into the side slideways. If the side slideways are occupied by other stcreopticon slides, as shown at 80, in Fig. 5, the pressure exerted by the pushing fingers will move forwardly the row of slides, and bring the slide in advance into the portals 20, in position to be engaged and transferred by the fingers l3 and 51, to the inner communicating channels of the plates 7. V hen the cam 67, engages the roller 55, on the plunger rod 51-, the latter is thereby raised in vertical position, the pins 56, on the lower end thereof, in the slots 46 and 53, operate to pull the cranks upwardly, thereby turning the shafts 38 and 44, outwardly of the machine to effect outward movement of the arms 39 and a7, and consequently the transfer of stereopticon slides from the side slideways to the opposite side slideways. During these movements, the pushing fingers on the slide members, yieldingly contact the outer sides of the stereopticon slides in the portals 20, and spring inwardly to engage the outer edge thereof. W hen the roller 55, drops away from the apex of the cam, the plunger bar 54;, drops by gravity to normal position, and forces the arms 4.5 and 52, downwardly, thereby forcing the vertical arms 39 and $7, to vibrate inwardly, the gravity of the plunger bar may be accelerated by the attaching of retractile springs to the arms 39 and 47, to force the same inwardly. In the progress of the stereopticon slides, horizontall. about the machine, each of the slides is brought to stand a pre-determined interval of time in front of the projector, and its contents displayed upon a. screen, in the well known manner. The duration of this interval is determined by the speed of the driving devices, the higher the speed the shorter the display, and vice versa. The operations of the machine and display of matter carried by the stereopticon slides will be automatically repeated as long as the power imparting devices are in motion.

Having described my invention what I claim isl. A stcreopticon machine, consisting of vertically extending standards, oppositely disposed horizontally extending channel. plates mounted on said standards and hav ing their end portions cut away to form portals and provided with longitudinally extending inner channels communicating therewith and with outer non-communicating channels, oppositely disposed horizontally extending inverted channel plates mounted on said standards upwardly of said first mentioned plates and having their end portions cut away to form portals and providcd with longitudinally extending inner channels communicating therewith and with non-communicating channels, oppositely disposed slideways connected between the end portions of said channel plates, slide membcrs slidably mounted in the non-communi- Vcatmg channels in said plates and provided with yielding fingers normally interposed between the inner channels therein, a plurality of vertically extending revolubly mounted shafts mounted at diagonally opposite end portions of said plates and provided with fingers adapted to move to and fro at the entrance of said slideways, the inner shafts of said shaft-s being provided at their lower ends with sprocket wheel's, a revolving cam, a lever pivotally mounted adjacent said cam and provided with a roller in engagement with the cam, a sprocket chain mounted on the sprocket wheels on said inner shafts of said shafts and having its one end connected with said lever and its opposite end connected with a retractile spring, a bar slidably mounted on the lower one of said plates and having a roller in engagement with said cam and with inwardly projecting pins, bell cranks mounted on said standards and having their vertical arms in engagement with said slide members and their hori- Zontal arms in engagement with the pins on said bar, and means for revolving said cam.

52. In a stereopticon machine, the combination of vertically extending standards, oppositely disposed horizontally extending channel plates mounted on said standards and having their end portions cut away to form portals and provided with longitudinally extending inner channels communicating therewith and with outer non-communicating channels, oppositely disposed horizontally extending inverted channel plates mounted on said standards upwardly of said first mentioned plates and having their end portions cut away to form portals and provided with longitudinally extending inner channels communicating therewith and with non-communicating outer channels, oppositely disposed slideways connected between the end portions of said channel plates, stereopticon slides lodged broadside in said slidew ays and edgewise in the inner channels in said plates, a lamp mounted inwardly of said channel plates and provided with a projector lens outwardly of the same, slide members slidably mounted in the non-communicating channels in said plates and provided with yielding fingers normally interposed between the inner channels therein, a plurality of vertically extending shafts mounted at diagonally opposite end portions of said plates and provided with fingers adapted to move to and fro at the entrances to said slideways, means for rocking said shafts, a revolving cam, a bar slidably mounted on the lower one of said plates and having a roller in engagement with said cam and with inwardly projecting pins, bell cranks mounted on said standards and having their vertical arms in engagement with said slide members and their horizontal arms in engagement with the pins on said bar, and means for revolving said cam.

3. In a. stereopticon machine, the combination of vertically extending standards, oppositely disposed horizontally extending channel plates mounted on said standards Copies of this patent may and having their end portions cut away to form portals and provided with longitudinally extending inner channels communicating therewith and with non-communicating outer channels, oppositely disposed horizontally extending inverted channel plates mounted on said standards upwardly of said first mentioned plates and having their end portions cut away to form portals and provided with longitudinally extending inner channels communicating therewith and with non-communicating outer channels, oppositely disposed slideways connected between the end portions of said channel plates, stereopticon slides lodged broadside in said slideways and edgewise in the inner chan nels in said plates, a lamp mounted inwardly of said channel plates and provided with a projector lens outwardly of the same, slide members slidably mounted in the non-communicating channels in said plates and provided with yielding fingers normally interposed between the inner channels therein, a plurality of vertically extending revoluble shafts mounted at diagonally opposite end portions of said plates and provided with fingers adapted to move to and fro at the entrances to said slideways, means for rocking said shafts, oppositely disposed yielding guides mounted on said plates and normally obstructing the entrances to said slideways and adapted to yield to pressure of stereopticon slides forced into said slideways, a revoluble cam, a bar slidably mounted on the lower one of said plates and having a roller in engagement with said cam and with inwardly projecting pins, bell cranks mounted on said standards and having their vertical arms in engagement with said slide members and their horizontal arms in engagement with the pins on said bar, and

means for revolving said cam.

Kansas City, Missouri, July lath, 1917.

JOHN S. GRAVES.

\Vitnesses NETTIE A. PURDY, JAMES C. Wa'rson.

be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

